Joshua Smoker is a 2007 left hand pitcher/left hand hitting outfielder from Calhoun HS, residing in Sugar Valley, GA. Smoker has an athletic, strong build on his plus 6'2" 190 lb. frame. He is put together well now but will continue to physically develop. Smoker has long been recognized as one of the top pitchers in the '07 class and was ranked #10 among PG National Top 85 pitchers. What he did on the mound was impressive and what he did with the bat in BP was equally, if not more impressive. Smoker pitches from a high 3/4 slot with a long arm stroke. He creates excellent leverage on the backside of his arm arc and unfolds his delivery very well. He maintains good rhythm in his delivery and has a lower half that works to provide him with power, taking some pressure off his arm. Smoker's hips in particular really work for him. He has a classic delivery that will keep him healthy and performing consistently for a long time. His fastball was a tick or two up from what he was showing in a number of previous PG events, to the delight of the scouts. He was up to 92 and sat in the 88-91 mph range. Smoker's fastball has life in the zone and he keeps it on line. His arm stroke really gets Smoker on top of the ball and at the apex of that stroke his hand is in great position to pour his fastball downhill, which he does. He commands the bottom of the zone very well and also has the ability to work in and out. Smoker also has a tight, 74-75 mph curveball that is a plus pitch. That pitch has tight spin and he gets depth in the bottom of the zone, while being able to pitch with it to either side of the plate. Smoker's third pitch is a 79 mph change-up that has good arm side run. He has a plus three pitch mix and the savvy, moxie, and pitchability to use his repertoire effectively. Basically he is the most polished left hander in the '07 high school class. Thoguh he is a primary pitcher, Smoker can really hit. His BP was one of top BPs at PG National. He made consistent plus contact with an easy swing. The ball was flying off his bat with spin and carry. He was fluid and hit with little effort. That BP alone would make him a prospect to follow with the bat. Smoker is an athletic pitcher, evident with his 6.90 60 yard dash. He has committed to play at Clemson and is going to enter the spring as one of the high school left handers on the list of the crosscheckers.

Joshua Smoker is a 2007 LHP/1B/OF with a 6'2'', 190 lb. frame from Sugar Valley, GA, who attends Calhoun High School. Smoker has a good pitcher's body with strong legs. He continues to show why he is one of the top left handed pitchers in the 2007 class. He has advanced tools on the mound with plus stuff. Smoker has command of all three of his pitches and moves the ball around the zone. He has good arm speed that helps produce a fastball that topped out at 88 mph. He gets good arm side life on his fastball and paints the corners with it. He also mixes in a very good sharp curveball with depth at 72-74 mph, and a plus changeup with late action at 79 mph. Not many pitchers in the country have the makings of three above average major league pitches, but Smoker is very close. He overpowers hitters at times, but also has the pitchability to set up hitters and get them out. He is very athletic on the mound and he repeats his delivery well. Smoker is a national level prospect with a great future. He is a good student as well.

Smoker, the top ranked left handed pitcher in the 2007 high school class at the moment, had his game in comfortable cruise control during 2 short outings in Fort Myers. His velocity was off a mph or two at 84-87 mph but Smoker isn’t strictly a gun guy anyway and he was throwing easy and loose. His curveball was anywhere between 68 and 73, depending on the power he wanted on it, and it was nasty most of the time. Smoker’s 73 mph change up is still his best pitch if you are a scout using a grading scale; his arm speed is just about ideal on it. It was worthwhile to see Smoker go through drills as a position player, as we haven’t seen this before. At 6-2, 190 lbs, Smoker is a graceful athlete with a nice running stride and 7.0 speed in the 60. He threw 84 mph from the outfield with an easy, controlled arm action. It’s evident that Smoker doesn’t get to bat regularly, but he showed a nice approach at the plate and hit some well in batting practice.